Poul Schlueter

Denmark's Conservative Prime Minister Poul Schlueter, who resigned after a setback in Tuesday's general election, was asked by Queen Margrethe II to form a new government. After meeting with the queen and leaders of Denmark's nine political parties, Schlueter announced that leaders of six parties, representing 90 of Parliament's 179 seats, supported him, while a lesser number favored his rival, Social Democratic leader and former Prime Minister Ankers Jorgensen.

Denmark's Conservative Prime Minister Poul Schlueter, who resigned after a setback in Tuesday's general election, was asked by Queen Margrethe II to form a new government. After meeting with the queen and leaders of Denmark's nine political parties, Schlueter announced that leaders of six parties, representing 90 of Parliament's 179 seats, supported him, while a lesser number favored his rival, Social Democratic leader and former Prime Minister Ankers Jorgensen.

A national election with 16 parties campaigning for 179 parliamentary seats would probably be a lively and heated political contest anywhere but Denmark, but on the eve of today's election a newspaper here observed, "The Campaign Has Disappeared." Even by the placid standards of politics in Denmark, where proportional representation has denied an outright majority to any party for more than half a century, this campaign has been all but invisible--in the newspapers and on television.

Danish voters handed conservative Prime Minister Poul Schlueter a sharp setback in national elections Tuesday and plunged the country into a political crisis with no clear winner or alternative government in sight. Far from the increased number of votes the public opinion polls had been predicting, the Conservative People's Party's share of the vote was reduced by 2.5%, and it lost four of its 42 seats in the Folketing, or Parliament.

Danish voters handed conservative Prime Minister Poul Schlueter a sharp setback in national elections Tuesday and plunged the country into a political crisis with no clear winner or alternative government in sight. Far from the increased number of votes the public opinion polls had been predicting, the Conservative People's Party's share of the vote was reduced by 2.5%, and it lost four of its 42 seats in the Folketing, or Parliament.

Lisbeth Schlueter, the wife of Danish Prime Minister Poul Schlueter, died today at the age of 43. Mrs. Schlueter died at the Rigshospitaled hospital in Copenhagen, where she was admitted a few days ago, Danish Radio reported. The cause of her death was not disclosed.

About 25,000 leftists staged a rally Tuesday outside Parliament to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Poul Schlueter over his economic policies. But Schlueter affirmed to Parliament his intention to maintain his tight spending policies, which he said have cut unemployment and improved business.

Danish Prime Minister Poul Schlueter arrived Sunday for an eight-day visit during which he will meet with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The two are expected to discuss East-West relations, disarmament and possible industrial ventures.

About 200,000 anti-government demonstrators packed Copenhagen's Parliament Square, defying a warning from Danish Prime Minister Poul Schlueter to end their wildcat walkouts or face court action. Similar protests took place in other provincial cities. Workers were protesting emergency back-to-work laws passed by Parliament March 30 to end strikes and lockouts that have crippled the nation.

A national election with 16 parties campaigning for 179 parliamentary seats would probably be a lively and heated political contest anywhere but Denmark, but on the eve of today's election a newspaper here observed, "The Campaign Has Disappeared." Even by the placid standards of politics in Denmark, where proportional representation has denied an outright majority to any party for more than half a century, this campaign has been all but invisible--in the newspapers and on television.

President Bush will be host to visits at his summer home in Kennebunkport, Me., later this month by Danish Prime Minister Poul Schlueter and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, the White House said today. Spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said Schlueter and his wife will spend Aug. 24-25 with a vacationing President and Barbara Bush, and Mulroney and his family will be guests at their oceanside retreat Aug. 30-31.